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Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Hi Everybody!I am on the Strawberry Jude Stamps blog today! I am really excited to be guest designing for them this month. I am using such an adorable stamp set called Fishing with Moose and Hedgehog.HERE IS A LINK to the Strawberry Jude Stamps online store - its worth checking out I promise! HERE IS A LINK to the stamp set I am using on today's card. They're other new release is a super cute dragon card and HERE IS A LINK to this stamp set called, Dragons & Jewels.

This card was so much fun to make! I love the cute little critters in this set so it was hard to choose which to use so I picked the moose. I tried to use as many stamps as I could here to create a scene.

First, I stamped the moose and his tacklebox beside him and a fish and hook connected to the fishing pole. Next, I drew in a dock around the moose and colored with Prismacolor Pencils. I also colored the fish with Prismacolors and drew in scales. There were a few scales but I added more. I cut the fish and dock out.

Then, I used some Canson watercolor paper with some Gansai Tambi watercolor paints. I used a big, flat paintbrush and painted lightly at the top and gradually made it darker. I cut out clouds with a stitched die and also the watercolor panel background with a stitched rectangle die, so they would match.

Finally I stamped the word, Fishing, cut out with a banner die and sponged around it and the clouds with inks.

This stamp set is PERFECT for masculine cards as you can see and I had a lot of fun using the different stamps on one card.

I hope I inspired you to draw in scenes and detail around your stamps. Obviously, you're not going to do this on every card because it does take some time, but I know you'll have special occasions for a husband, Dad, etc., where you would want to take more time on the cards.

This is just one way to make a card with this set, it doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. Lay it all out how you want to and make sure you're having FUN with it.

If you would like to learn more about drawing in scenes around your stamps, adding detail to your stamps, etc., I learned this from taking classes at Kit and Clowder. Alyce Keegan is the best coloring teacher. She teaches you how to use the pencils or markers in the classes, why you are shading where you are by teaching lightsource. There are monthly pencil and marker classes, which I take, and there are Technique classes such as Skin and Hair, Clothing where you learn how to draw in and color pleats, etc., Animal Class and so on. Check out their website where you will find a couple of free classes. You can see what they're like and if this is for you.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Hi Everybody,The project I'm showing today is a card shaped like a high heel shoe. This isn't just any high heel shoe though. This shoe represents strength, hope, and life. October is breast cancer awareness month and I thought that I would make a pink high heel shoe in honor of this. This file is from The Cutting Cafe and HERE IS A LINK to the online shop. HERE IS A LINK to this high heel shoe file.

It was actually really easy to make this card. I cut out the folding card part first with pink cardstock from Close To My Heart. Then I cut out the piece called Top With Bottom Edge out of the patterned paper. The pink glitter paper is the piece called Top.The sentiment is included in this set and is a printable stamp. I printed it with my laser printer and foiled it in pink foil using Thermoweb Pink Melon Deco Foil. I added a breast cancer ribbon cut out of the pink glitter paper. I used Gina K Designs cardstock in Black Onyx and Innocent Pink. To finish it off, I used the Tonic Ticket Punch in the corners and embellished with sequins from The Ton and Craft Medley. I think this is a really cute and different card that can be decorated anyway you want. You can put the sentiment on the inside or print like a place card style like I did. You can write a few words of encouragement inside whether you put the sentiment inside or not. I hope this card will sit on a shelf or somewhere visible where the recipient will see it and not only think about what a strong person she is but also about the loving friend she has who gave her the card. You can of course put her favorite chocolate, etc., with the card. I'm quite sure she would not mind that at all. :)I hope I inspired you to make a project for someone for October breast cancer awareness. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Monday, September 18, 2017

Hi Everybody,I have been somewhat MIA the last few days due to a knee issue but I'm back now. I love this card that I'm showing you today. I made an Oxide Ink background using Worn Lipstick, Candied Apple and Abandoned Coral. These colors look really great together! I did the smooshing technique where you put some ink down on your craft mat, spritz with water and 'smoosh' your watercolor cardstock into the ink. I usually do it in two colors and use the heat gun for a few seconds. You may or may not need to dab with a paper towel. Then I'll dab it in another color or two and use heat gun again for a few seconds. It's totally up to you because it will turn out different each time you do it so you just have to judge it for yourself to see when it looks right to you. I love it when there is a little bit of white left. I took the spray bottle top off and flicked some water drops from the tube part of the sprayer. You can use a paint brush as well. You can also flick little spots of paint if you'd like. I used Bristol Smooth cardstock for this card.

I used the stamp set from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps called Christmas Botanicals. This is a lovely stamp set and I think you can do so much with it since there are two different kinds of flowers and also separate pieces such as holly leaf, berries, etc. I love the font for Merry Christmas too. I stamped everything with Versamark Ink and embossed with Stampendous Detail Fine Gold Embossing Powder. Even though the flowers and leaves were somewhat colored in when I stamped them on the Oxide Ink background, I colored in the poinsettias and leaves with Zig Markers. I used a Gold Wink of Stella pen for the center and then went over the centers of the flowers and the berries with Glossy Accents for some added shine and dimension. That's it! When you make an Oxide Ink background, half of your work is done for you! Did I inspire you to make an Oxide Ink background and use your Christmas stamps on it? I think this gives the stamps a totally different look than the traditional way that I usually do them. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Hi Everybody,This week I am on Sweet 'N Sassy's Blog using stamp sets called Christmas Wreath and Christmas Wishes. This is the first Christmas card I've made this year! I promised myself I would start in July and make a few each month and that did not happen.

The card stock I am using is from Gina K Designs called Cherry Red, Black Onyx, and Layering White. I am really liking the brighter green and red together this year so I stamped the wreath with Colorbox Ink in Jalopeno. I stamped the berries with Gina K Designs Cherry Red and it covered beautifully.I got married this past April so I thought it would be nice to make cards using stamps such as 'from us' or 'from the family' so I used a stamp set called Christmas Wishes. I really like the fonts in this set. I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black and embossed with Zing Clear Detail Fine Embossing Powder to give some dimension and shine. I love how crisp and black Versafine ink looks.I cut the letter 'B' out with the Silhouette machine. I have been wanting to get a wooden letter B to go on the front door ever since I got married in April. Monograms are very popular where I live in Mississippi so I liked the idea of using the Letter 'B' on the card making it more personal since the card is 'from our family' and we're newly married this year. The bow was also cut out with the Silhouette, folded and glued together. I brushed Wink of Stella in Clear over the bow and put some Glossy Accents in the center.To finish it off I used some red and silver metallic twine from my stash. Glossy Accents were used on the berries and the letter 'B' to give lots of shine and dimension. HERE IS A LINK to the Sweet 'N Sassy online store for more Christmas stamps, dies, etc.I hope I inspired you to make some Christmas cards, especially ones that are personal and unique for your family. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Welcome to the Graciellie Design September New Release Blog Hop! There are several new stamp sets available in the online shop today so please take a minute to hop to see some beautiful inspiration from the design team.

The stamp set I used is called This Season and HERE IS A LINK to Graciellie Design online shop where you can purchase this new stamp set beginning today.

I wanted to keep this card fairly simple because I wanted the apple blossom stamp and sentiment to stand out more than dies, embellishments, etc.

To begin, I sized the apple blossom stamp and sentiment how I wanted them and I did it within a space of 4-1/4"x 5-1/2" so I could cut it down to fit a card perfectly. I colored the apple blossom with Copic Markers. To add some sparkle, I used a clear Wink of Stella glitter brush pen and for the center and the stamen, I used a gold Wink of Stella glitter brush pen. I LOVE this gold pen! It leaves a thick coat of color and you can layer as well.

I used a background stamp from Impression Obsession called Cover A Card - Canvas. I use this stamp when I want to use a light, neutral color for the background and show texture. I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen for this. To add a little more subtle texture to the background, I added some splotches in Distress Ink, Tattered Rose using a Stampin' Up set called Gorgeous Grunge. This was a perfect soft color for this card. In order to make the background look like this, I had to mask off the flower stamp. I cut it out with my Scan N Cut, no more fussy cutting! I thought the background stamp would go all the way up to my stamped image but it left the white area around it, I like it though.

I used Gina K Designs card stock in Chocolate Brown and Kraft colors. I used some Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and sponged around the background layer. It bothers me to have white edges. I added a few dew drops using some Brutus Monroe glue because it dries so quickly. I felt like it needed something else to finish it off and I decided on some natural and gold twine, which I just wrapped around a couple of times, taped it on the back to hold it and tied a little bow. I think this looks fabulous with the other elements of the card.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Hi Everybody,Today I'm on Strawberry Jude Stamps blog. I'm very excited to be a guest designer this month for them. The stamp set I used is called Fishing With Moose and Hedgehog and is so adorable and perfect for a masculine card. I am going to give the card I am posting today to my husband for his birthday this month. It can also be great for a Valentine's Day card as well. HERE IS A LINK to Strawberry Jude Stamps online store and HERE IS A LINK to the stamp set I am using today. There is also a super cute dragon stamp set available in the new release called, Dragons and Jewels and HERE IS A LINK to that stamp set.

This is what the stamp set looks like that I used...

I really had a lot of fun with this one. I made a scene using the moose and hedgehog in the hammocks, the 2 trees and the sentiment, just the two of us.

I used Bristol Smooth paper and began by sponging a light layer of Memento Summer Sky, which is a perfect light blue color for this. Next I wanted to add some texture with clouds so I used a couple of older Spellbinders Scalloped Oval Dies in two different sizes. I sponged right around the edge of the die positioning it different ways and I used Gina K Designs Powder Blue ink. I used Gamsai Tambi watercolor paints and simply painted a strip of grass across the bottom and then I used a Zig Real Brush Marker to flick blades of grass on top. I also used these watercolor paints to color in he trees and hammocks and Zig Markers to color the animals. The hearts were cut out of Gina K Designs kraft card stock using Poppy Stamps Heart Frames dies and the sentiment was stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with Hero Arts white embossing powder. I hope you'll check out the Strawberry Jude Stamps online store for the two new release stamps as well as all of the other clear polymer stamps. I am really impressed with the quality of these stamps. This was my first time using their stamps and I highly recommend them. I hope I inspired you to try building a scene around your stamps. It's very easy and fun to see each part come together. It's just another way to enhance your stamps. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Hi Everybody,I want to thank you for hopping with The Cutting Cafe's blog hop that started this past Thursday. I thought the 3D Pumpkin Trio was so cute as a fall decoration, Halloween, etc., so that's why I chose it and wanted someone to win it.

The winner of this pumpkin file is Missy Dennis. Congratulations!!!

Please send an email to me at cardsbyregina@gmail.com, with your email address and this file will be sent to you and I would LOVE to see what you make. The instructions are included with the file but if have any questions, please feel free to ask, either on email or Facebook. If you have not ever been to The Cutting Cafe's online shop, I invite you to check out not only the many SVG files but there is also a separate area where you will find clear stamps and accessories for your stamps and files, such as patterned paper, inks, products to use with shaker cards to name just a few. The owner, Regina Easter, also makes custom stamps and printed custom ribbon and cellophane bags. Watch in the near future for me to use some custom ribbon and cellphone bags in a Halloween project. If anyone is interested in the 3D Pumpkin Trio I made in the bloghop, HERE IS A LINK.Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!